Another tip of the hat goes to Kathy Van Kleek, senior vice president-government relations (MIC, MSF, SVIA, ROHVA), who's based in the association’s Washington, D.C., offices. “Van Kleek has a single-minded focus on protecting the industry from unnecessary and unfair legislative and regulatory burdens - ensuring that every party in the distribution channel has the flexibility to do business in an environment that allows them to make their own informed business decisions and adapt to changing market and economic conditions, without legislative and regulatory barriers that only serve to create a business climate where options become more limited and costs of doing business are needlessly increased,” says MIC president Tim Buche.

And the list doesn't end there. Click on the links below to read in-depth profiles of women making waves in the industry, and click on this link for bios of even more women accomplishing great things.